London is the place to be during the summer season. However, gone are the days when summer used to last for months. Now, we are lucky to get a month of glorious sunshine. That said, the weather (surprisingly) has been pretty impressive lately. I have been enjoying brisk walks to local shops in Old Spitalfields Market, and steady jogs through the Docklands to Victoria park in order to make the most of the hot weather. There’s something about the summer vibe in London that’s so encapsulating making you want to postpone any planned holidays abroad for the winter period, and spend your summer in London; the place I love to call home.

I would like to dedicate this blog to our individual style which I believe is an innate quality some of us discover sooner than others. I’ve never felt the need to follow particular trends religiously but they are useful points of reference for when we want to experiment with fashion. When the sun is out to play so are we becoming riskier with our fashion choices in addition to wearing brighter colours we wouldn’t normally opt for. How can you make your summer stylishly opulent? Think bold, beautiful colours to reflect the vibrant sunshine. If yellow or neon colours are not your first preference then other colours such as pink, or red look rather lush when worn on a hot day. If you prefer classic monochrome i.e. shades of black and white with which you can’t go wrong, I suggest wearing colourful statement jewellery to add a pop of colour to a simple outfit.

What does your style say about you? Do you often find yourself pondering over this question? I certainly do, so when I discovered Jewellery brand  Simply Be You, whose ethos centres around expressing your own individuality through your personal style, there seemed to be a common interest resulting in a collaborative photoshoot. The SBY jewellery collections are designed to reflect your personality hence their motto “Wear Your Personality” As I enjoy supporting brands I believe in, I selected a number of pieces from the SBY Delight, Noir, Modern and Bold collections which echo some of my character traits being bold, delightful, mysterious and modern. Seeing as my blog is a celebration of our individual style I felt that SBY Jewellery was the right brand with whom to collaborate to showcase this and the ability we have to reinvent ourselves not by following trends but through our own personal flair. After all, fashion and style ultimately allow us to express ourselves in any way we choose. Furthermore, just like the summer season is associated with weddings, so should our main wardrobe replenish – out with the old and in with the new to reflect a brighter spirit, and new beginnings. On that note, here are some of my favourite looks I chose for the photo shoot as part of this blog. I also wore some fabulous pieces from one of my favourite designers Biba who are known for their classic and eclectic styles. Their current Autumn/Winter 2016 collection is now available at The House of Fraser, Oxford Street showcasing an autumnal colour palette mixed with brighter colours suitable for the summer season. Make your summer stylishly opulent by wearing:

• brighter colours
• colourful statement jewellery
• lightweight fabrics such as silk or viscose that float elegantly against the summer breeze
• a flattering low V-neck dress or top
• a white jacket that compliments most outfits
• a comfortable pair of shorts to show off your pins considering this is the season to show less and care less.

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Leopard print is a classic trend that can be worn anytime of the year. I teamed this lovely dress from Shein with an SBY necklace that sat perfectly underneath a dainty black collar. This dress is suitable for all body shapes and ideal for anybody who has a quirky sense of style.

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Go all out with a colourful dress like this leopard printed wrap dress by Biba This style is perfect for anybody who is curvy or an hourglass shape cinching in nicely at the waist. The colour combination of yellow and pink is ideal for summer, the low v-neck is flattering and the fabric is light and cool.

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Wearing lots of colour is a must during summer so why not go even further with a statement necklace in bold pink like this one from SBY Jewellery. The bardot top is from Shein, and the shorts are from River Island. If you enjoy mixing and matching different looks then I suggest heading to the high street for some cheap and cheerful pieces.

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Classic monochrome is one of my favourite looks. It’s worth investing in a classic white jacket like this one from Biba which is perfect as part of an evening look. You can dress this jacket up or down. If you are rather ‘busty’ this jacket might not be the best style for you as it’s a slim fit. As an alternative option wear a white, three-quarter length cardigan instead. The SBY silver necklace compliments the white jacket serving as a classic colour combination.

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For the ultimate stylishly opulent look, it’s imperative to through gold into the mix. This gold necklace from SBY makes a statement in itself. I suggest teaming it up with a classic black dress or jacket from Biba as I did. This tassel jacket is on trend and versatile in that you can wear it with black or white jeans, a dress or skirt. The choice is yours!  Overall, most body types can pull off this look.

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Your wardrobe just wouldn’t be the same without classic red. I opted for this cute little red dress from Shein! It’s a slim fit so more suitable for a petite, athletic shape. Be daring and show your confident side in red.

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I fell in love with this elegant jumpsuit from Shein which worked well with these stunning silver earrings from SBY. This look is ideal for a cocktail party – chic and demure. Shein trousers and jumpsuits tend to be a snug fit so my advice for curvier ladies would be to purchase the next size up from your usual dress size. Otherwise, you are bound to find some amazingly unique pieces on Shein’s online store that you wouldn’t find on the high street.

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Have fun with fashion hence why I chose this top from Shein as part of my final look for the photo shoot which also reflects the fun-loving side of my personality. Like Chanel once said “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself”

Credits: Photography by iDeLick at the Camera Club | Jewellery by SBY Jewellery   | Clothing Biba and Shein | #StyleiconnatStyling | Hair by #HananAlamy | Skincare by #Eberlin from Depicool and #Essie Nails by The Urban Pitstop Quote #SatisfactionGuaranteed20 for 20% off all products and services at Depicool and Cucumba – the urban pitstop.

Written by @Styleiconnat #TheLifestyleCollective

Following on from my previous blog post about Exclusive Tailoring, the number of prominent British menswear brands is becoming more apparent within the fashion industry. With the rise of emerging British talent, we are seeing a new culture of influencers whose creative innovation is being recognised worldwide especially among reputable celebrities who wear fashionable pieces on the red carpet in support of designer brands. Exclusive Tailoring, founded by Richard Thompson, is a cutting edge menswear tailoring brand who have dressed the likes of Lord Sugar, Ronan Keating and Anthony Joshua to name just a few.

Exclusive Tailoring has an extensive range of British and Italian fabrics and uses fabrics manufactured from leading merchants such as ‘Holland & Sherry’, ‘Lord Piana’ and ‘Scabal’. You can choose from a wide range of high-quality fabrics including pure wool with cashmere, pashmina, silk, mohair and Super 110s, 120s, 130s to 180s.

As well as having an impressive list of celebrity and private clients, Exclusive Tailoring stands out with the same calibre of other tailoring services based on Savile Row. I have also recommended clients to Exclusive Tailoring who don’t think twice about spending £800+ on a suit that will last for years to come. If we think along the lines of cost-per-wear (CPW = Total cost of the item / no of days you’ll wear it) a price tag of £800 may appear expensive at face value but works out to £66 per month over 1 year when you do the CPW math. This is a damn good investment, and worth every penny compared to spending money on a cheaper suit and then disposing of it after a month due to the wear and tear of low-quality fabrics. To the contrary, for a killer look like Idris Elba or Leonardo Dicaprio, I would check out Exclusive Tailoring for some inspiration so as to step out in style like an A-lister too. 

Idris Elba at Met Gala 2016

Leonardo Dicaprio at the Baftas 2016

A classic suit will never date. The summer season of weddings has arrived so my advise, as a stylist, is to invest in either a blue or grey suit – single breasted with a flat fronted trouser to match. As part of Exclusive Tailoring’s made-to-measure service, Richard Thompson provides an initial consultation where you’ll choose a colour for your suit from a book of colour swatches. He will then take your measurements so the suit is individually made to your exact body proportions. A bespoke suit is made entirely from scratch which is more expensive and another service offered by Exclusive Tailoring. Made-to-measure is sewn from a standard-size base pattern which closely corresponds with the customer’s measurements. Once the base pattern is altered to match the customer’s measurements the garment is then constructed from this. There’s also an opportunity to customise the fabric and detailing. You may have to wait up to several weeks for your made-to-measure suit but it’s worth it in the end. Let Exclusive Tailoring show you how.

Exclusive Tailoring

Exclusive Tailoring

For further style tips on men’s fashion, and how to get the best out of your smart attire book one of our Skype Style Sessions (SSS) for your free 15-minute consultation.

Written by @Styleiconnat | Images from Pinterest and Exclusive Tailoring.